For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Bagsharon...I have never specifically looked it up to see if it is a side effect, but I can tell you that about an hour after I take my Anastrozole, my back starts itching like crazy. Spurts of itching like that, all during the day...mostly on my back and kind of pins and needles type feeling. Never had it before starting the AI.
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Why is it that about 8 hrs after I take my arimidex I am so nauseous the rest of the day?
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Beachbaby---I found that a really good probiotic helped with the nausea. I think that the meds (and previous chemo, rads, anesthesia, etc) throw off the gut balance. I started taking Primadolphius Optima in the yellow bottle that I get at the Vitamin Shoppe. I buy it there because I know that it has stayed refrigerated. I've also heard ginger helps.
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Marcellapa: Sorry that I didn't respond sooner. I have not been on for a while. My other half and myself had colds and/or flu that seemed to last forever. Now feeling much better. I stopped the anastrozole for several weeks following both tooth extraction and following my right knee replacement of June 21, 2016 because by October, 2016, the healing was not progressing as fast as my previously left knee replacement. My dental work just before Thanksgiving, I again went off anastrozole for a short period to allow for healing. All is well and I am back on my anastrozole without incident and my knee is doing well.
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Thanks so much for the positive news, Jn3. I appreciate it!
I also have to have both knees done over a period of time. I see my Orthopedic surgeon this week to do some planning and get a steroid shot in both knees to help in the interim. I think the anastrozole increased some knee pain for me. I started the Anastrozole November 1, 2016 and by January I had to replace my toilet with a comfort height model due to the increase in pain and difficulty getting up. I'm also having difficulty bending my knees to sit down and get in and out of the car. I wasn't in great shape before but since the medication things went downhill fast. Ugh
Thanks again and best wishes for continued knee success.... : )
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Anybody have any info on recent trials/studies pertaining to "absolute" % benefit or "absolute" % recurrence risk reduction? (Excluding "relative" %) Older studies:
Absolute Benefit for Early Hormone-Positive BC
5 yr Anastrozole = 3% Absolute Risk Reduction
5 yr Letrozole = 3% Absolute Risk Reduction
2-3 yr Tamoxifen & 2-3 yr Anastrozole or Exemestane
3% – 5% Absolute Risk Reduction
5 yr Tamoxifen & 2-3 yr Letrozole 6% Absolute Risk Reduction
April 2006 (Table 1) http://www.bcmj.org/article/new-guidelines-treatme...
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IBIS-I – High Risk Women
5 yr Placebo = 350 out of 3575 = 10% failure
5 yr Tamoxifen = 251 out of 3579 = 7% failure
3% Benefit (Absolute)
(Click on SUMMARY OF RESULTS)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/P...(14)71171-4/abstract
…...........................................................................................
IBIS-II – High Risk Post-Menopausal Women
5 yr Placebo = 85 out of 1944 = 4% failure
5 yr Anastrozole = 40 out of 1920 = 2% failure
2% Benefit (Absolute)
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/P...(13)62292-8/abstract
Best wishes.
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I have the same issue with nausea. The doctor is having me take it at night now, but I still get nauseous, especially after lunch. I've been on a Anastrozole for 6 weeks. Tamoxifen before with no nausea.
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Hello-I joined this site for just this reason! I am on anastrozole 3 1/2 yrs. Took tamoxifen before that. I find that the longer I am on it the more tired and fatigued I feel! I have absolutely NO motivation to do anything. All the things I use to enjoy-even going out to eat with girl friends is such a struggle! I hate to stop taking it because it is working but what quality of life am I getting if I don't want to do anything? I feel like a huge unmotivated slug! I would like to hear what anyone else has to say and/or what they did to help this.
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Rheam831, that's exactly why my MO ended up switching me to exemestane. I felt exhausted, lead weight legs and flu like on Anastrozole.
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Rheam831.....So sorry you are suffering. Please talk to your MO about alternatives. QOL is so important! Good luck and keep us posted.
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Here is an article about the role of AIs in joint pain. As the path gets cleared for immunotherapy and breast cancer treatment, studies like these will help us understand the effects of depleting estrogen from the system
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anyone have focal back pain on the AIs. No pain in peripheral joints just an area of my Thoracic spine. Of course I am scheduled for a bone scan next week but hoping it is just AI related. Alk phos and tumor markers have all been stable. Plain X-rays just show arthritis.Seems to be present since I changed from Aromasin to arimidex.
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I have been on anastrozole for 4 months and I am having a lot of side effects. My main complaint is the bone and joint pain especially the carpal tunnel in my hands. The pain in my hands makes sleeping difficult. My question is how do any of you manage side effects from anastrozole? My onc does not give me any tips on handling the side effects. I know that I have a long road ahead of me taking this medication and I get very depressed with my quality of life.
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marshal,
Some people find that a daily Claritin (or generic) helps with joint pain. Just make sure it does not have a D after the name; you don't want the decongestant component.
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Marshal, I second what Janet recommended. Also some arthritis sufferers (which I think your pain mimics) have good luck with Drunken Raisins. You might give that a whirl too. Hope either or both help!
Drunken Raisins'-a natural arthritis remedy
To prepare gin-soaked raisin, first empty one box of dried white raisin in a shallow container. Only white or golden raisin should be used for this recipe. Then pour enough gin into the container to cover the raisins.
Cover the container ( but not with plastic, a kitchen towel is good) and keep it covered for 7 – 10 days on the to allow the raisin to steep in the gin (sitting out, not in fridge).
Allow all the gin to evaporate to leave gin-soaked raisins in the container. These raisins keep well when refrigerated. The popular advice is to take nine of these "drunken raisins" every day. Most users report improvements in arthritis symptoms between 1 – 8 weeks of using this remedy.
Why it works:
1. Golden raisins- the ONLY type of raisins worthy of the recipe- require sulfur or sulfides in their processing to make them golden. Sulfur is an active ingredient in 2 effective natural arthritis supplements: glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Golden raisins come from sultana grapes and are cultivated under the name Thompson seedless grapes in the United States.
2. Sultana grapes contain proanthocyanidins which are thought to help fight infections and reduce inflammation. Grapes also contain resveratrol, a powerful anti-oxidant that is being studied for many of it's disease fighting properties.
3. Gin is flavored with juniper berries and juniper berries contain Terpinen. Terpinen has anti inflammatory properties. The essential oil that is in juniper berries contains more than 100 compounds including myrcene (an anti oxidant), catechins (anti-oxidant), and flavanoids (anti oxidant). Test tube studies have shown that juniper berries can inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandins help mediate an inflammatory response and increase the sensitivity of nerve endings to pain. By inhibiting their production, a reduction in pain can occur.
HUGS!
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Crazywabbit, I've been on Arimidex for 3 months and have the hand problem.. I had xrays and it was arthritis.. The Dr. gave me braces to wear when I'm doing something active.. other then that I take Aleve when I need it... Pray yours get better
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What does the hand pain feel like? I had my wrist lock up in December and I'm still in a lot of pain with it. Just moving my wrist or trying to grasp something hurts. I'm assuming my bone scan in January would have shown arthritis in that area.
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If it was your DEXAscan that's only on your left hip and femur.
If it's carpal tunnel your thumb and pointer finger, half of your middle finger will be numb, and hurt. Pain will go up the arm.
Be best to check with PCP, rule out arthritis or something else.
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No, this was a bone scan. My fingers aren't numb and the pain doesn't go up my arm. It's just around wrist. It hurts when I move my wrist around and when I grab something with my thumb and index finger.
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Crazywabbit I have been experiencing back pain on Arimidex. A CT of the lumbar and thoracic spine showed no sign of cancer. Hope your tests are clear.
I have some problems with tendonitis in my right thumb/wrist Mommato3. I believe it's a SE of the AI. I'm also experiencing pain in the achilles tendons.
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For me in my right hand it is pins and needles all the time but especially when I'm writing, putting on mascara, etc. I woke up three mornings ago and my hand from my wrist to the tips of my thumb, pointer, and index finger were numb, and when I picked up my robe it felt like someone had poured gas on the palm and lit it on fire. It took twenty minutes of shaking my hand and positioning my wrist a certain way, till it eased. My left hand singles occasionally but has constant pain in the thumb and down to the wrist. It feels like a rubber band being stretched when I touch my thumb and index or pointer finger together. I have to have the nerve test for a definitive diagnosis.
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The test isn't fun. Had it. Didn't show carpal tunnel. Cashier in my grocery just had the surgery. She went to a hand specialist. Was off work a few days, now says everything is great.
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I have hand pain below my thumb and just above the wrist .. I had xrays done and it showed severe arthritis.. and my bone density showed I have osteopenia and osteoporosis... It's painful when I put pressure on it, like getting out of a chair, or picking up something...
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I looked up tendonitis and it sounds like that is the problem. I've had tendonitis flare up periodically in both my elbows since I started taking Arimidex. I didn't consider that it could affect my wrist too. My Dexa showed osteopenia in my right hip and right on the line with my spine and left hip. The bone scan (not Dexa) can pick up arthritis in the body but who knows if it would have severe enough or if they were really looking for it in my wrist. It's tender on the right side of my wrist when I put pressure on it. I'm having a hard time moving my wrist around, typing and picking stuff up.
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I had terrible Achilles tendinitis on aromasin, it cleared up after the change to arimidex.
Bone scan tomorrow, fingers crossed. At least my colonoscopy yesterday was all Ok. Good for another 10 years, I hope.
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PontiacPeggy, Thank you for the Drunkin Raisins recipe and info. Very facinating!!!
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WildTulip, I can't take credit for the recipe. I also don't personally know if it works. But others have said it does help. And sometimes just a bit of help makes a huge difference. Hope it helps you.
HUGS!
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Hi All.....it has been awhile since checking in as all was well....need advice about some changes. I have been on Anastozole daily for second try since July. All was well and any SE's were handled pretty simply i.e., joint pain taken care of with daily Claritin/Advil. For past several months have had thyroid issues which have required 2 increases in meds....and, cholesterol is SO high doc wants me to start statins. While I get the cholesterol concerns...I am now dealing again with overriding fatique, slow pulse, and hair loss/coarseness- all signs of low thyroid...again....I was diagnosed with hypothyroid 20 years ago and only have had to increase dosage of meds maybe 3-4 times since onset until past 4 months...increased twice and thinking we will do it again after bloodwork next week- anyone having thyroid issues? UGH!
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my thyroid did the opposite, it went hyper. I had been on AIs for 2 years. The initial dose of Tapazole was way too strong and it threw me into hypothyroid range and I gained 15 lbs in 3 months. Felt terrible like you described. Now on 1/4 the dose of meds and while I feel more normal I still can not budge the weight! Good luck getting your numbers right.
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OK after starting Anastrozole I have went through several side effects each subsiding after time. Hot flashes from Satin, Bone pain in my knees that felt like they had been hit with a hammer, swelling in my legs and ankles. Now my side effect is ringing in my ears. Been going on for 2 months now. Still suffering from not sleeping well, I wake 5 or 6 times a night and have troubles falling back to sleep. Does anyone have any ideas on the ringing in my ears? I really feel that is what wakes me up. My blood pressure which also went up for a while has come down so that isn't it. I keep hoping like the other side effects it will eventually go away but it is driving me nuts. Any ideas?
Helen
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